Friday, March 28, 2008
Globalisation The term often refers to the growing integration of economies and societies around the world.
Although the contemporary debate on globalization has been contentious,it has not always been useful. No one doubts that somevery significant global processes—economic, social, cultural, politicaland environmental—are underway and that they affect (nearly) everyone and (nearly) everything. Yet, there is no agreement on exactly how to define this thing we call “globalization,” nor on exactly which parts of it are good or bad, and for whom. For the most part, a polarized view of globalization, its potential and its pitfalls has taken hold of the public imagination. It has often been projected either as a panacea for all the ills of the world or as their primary cause.
Impacts on:
Political Relations
Globalization constrains states: free trade limits the ability of states to set policy and protect domestic companies; capital mobility makes generous welfare states less competitive; global problems exceed the grasp of any individual state; and global norms and institutions become more powerful.
Culture
FOR
-It leads to cultural homogeneity: interaction and integration diminish difference; global norms, ideas or practices overtake local mores; many cultural flows, such as the provision of news, reflect exclusively Western interests and control; and the cultural imperialism of the United States leads to the global spread of American symbols and popular culture .
-Cheerleaders consider the decline of cultural distinctions as a substantial sign of enhanced communications, a measure of integration of societies, and a scope toward unification of civilizations.
AGAINST
-Conservative Arab nationalists and fundamentalists argue that their culture cannot adhere to many globalized notions.
-Critics of globalization argue that this cultural invasion will lead to the disintegration of identity and the spirit of culture
Social Issues
Progress on poverty reduction over the past decade was troublingly slow. The number of people living on US$1 a day or less fell slightly from about 1.2 billion in 1990 to 1.1 billion in 2000.
Globalization and overall global poverty.By common consent, globalization has proceeded rapidly since the 1980s. Yet according to the recent Global Poverty Report, the proportion of the world population living in poverty has declined from 29% in 1988 to 26% in 1998. Moreover, social indicators for many poor countries also show improvement over several decades.
Environment
http://www.unep.org/gc/gc24/docs/FivePropositions.pdf